SDCC's Founders Rebel: Oral History Panel Returns... Outside The Con

Hold up, SDCC faithful! A highly anticipated "Oral History of San Diego Comic-Con" panel is set to return this year. But here's the kicker: it's happening outside the official convention.

After a controversial rejection by Comic-Con International three years ago, organizer Mathew Klickstein is bringing the deep dive into fandom's roots to Bards & Cards in the Gaslamp District. No badge? No problem. This free event on Thursday, July 23, 2026, promises "no holes barred" stories from the con's early architects. Standing room only seems a certainty.

This isn't just a nostalgic chat; it's a defiant move. The original panel's rejection sparked significant bad blood, highlighting a divide between SDCC's corporate present and its fan-driven past. Now, original committee members like Roger Freedman, Wendy All, and Clayton Moore, alongside Gus Krueger (son of co-founder Ken Krueger) and others, will share their unvarnished truths. Even Rick Geary, the legendary cartoonist who designed Comic-Con International's Toucan mascot, created the panel flyer.